Feeding apparatus for wood strips.



' PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

P.'J. JOEGKEN. FEEDING APPARATUS FOR WOOD STRIPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1902.

2 SHEETS-S -ruin: A

PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

A P- J. JOECKEN.

FEEDING APPARATUS FOR WOOD STRIPS.

Arruourox nun MAR. a1, 1902 x0 MODEL. 2 snnnrs-snnnr 2.

Wm... wnsumuvou o 0 Tu: ifinms Pains cu PHOYO UNITED STATES PatentedJune 16, 1903.

PATENT Onrrcn.

PETER J. JOECKEN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO. THE PETER GER- LACHCOMPANY, OF CLEVELAND,

OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FEEDING APPARATUS FOR W OOD STRIPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,920, dated June 16,1903.

Application filed March 81, 1 902.

To all whom it 1mg concern:

Be it known that I, PETER J. JOECKEN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Oleveland,'in the county of Ouyahoga 5 and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forFeeding Strips or Bars of lVood or other Material; and I hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the IQinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for feeding strips orbars of any i 5 material, and pertains more especially to ap paratuswhich is well adapted for feeding staves to an endless carrier orconveyor.

The object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the characterindicated, which will feed intermittently, which is simple and durablein construction, and reliable in its operation.

IVith this object in view and to the end of realizing otheradvantageshereinafter ap- 2 5 pearing my invention consists in certainfeatures of construction and combinations ofparts hereinafter described,and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a top plan of apparatusembodying my invention. Fig. II is a left-hand side elevation relativeto Fig. I, partlyjon'line II II, Fig. I. Fig. III is a vertical sectionon lines III III, Figs. I and II. Fig. IV is avertical sectioncorresponding with Fig. III, except in the position of the movableparts.

The apparatus illustrated comprises two standards aand a,which areplacedvertically and a'suitable distance apart laterally;

40 Each standard (9 is provided upon its inner side with two inwardlyprojecting parallel flanges a,which extend vertically of the standardand are arranged a suitable distance apart transversely of the standard.The standards a, with their flanges a, form a hopper which is uniform orapproximately uniform in dimensionsfrom top and bottom, open at the topand bottom, and open also and preferably, but not necessarily, betweenopposite flanges a of the different standards a, respectively. The

standards a are far enough apart to accombetween the said standards:

Serial No. 100,749. (No model.)

modate the placing of the stavesor other strips or bars I) of wood ormetal, which are to be fed by my improved apparatus, longitudinally Thebars or strips 19' are piled between the standards a upon two shelves 0,which are movablewithin and laterally of the different standards,respectively, and the path of the strips or bars I) is downwardly to anendless conveyer or carrier comprising two endless chains (l, arranged asuitable distance apart laterally between and below the travel of thesaid shelves. The standards a are slotted laterally, as at a toaccommodate the location and operation of 6 5 the shelves 0, which areactuated simultaneously from or toward each other, as will hereinafterappear. The shelves project in their extreme inner position, as shown inFigs. I and III, into the path of the bars or strips 1) and extend underopposite ends, respectively,

of the lowermost strip or bar I) of the pile of bars or strips '1)between the standards a and support the said pile. V The shelves 0 intheir extreme outer position, shown in Fig. IV, are outside of the pathof the members of the said-pile and obviously do not support the pile,which is then supported by detents e.

Above each shelf care a series or plurality of movable detents e, whichare arranged such a distance above the said shelf as to accommodate onlythe thickness of one bar or strip 12 between the travel or sweep of theshelves 0 and the path orsweep of the said detents,

as shown in Fig. III. The detents 6 above each shelf 0 are arrangeddirectly opposite the detents 6 above the other shelf 0 and are actuatedsimultaneously with, but in a direction opposite to, the actuation ofthe last-mentioned detents, as will hereinaftermore fully appear. Thedetents care in their extreme outer position arranged outside of thepath of the strips or bars Z), as shown in Figs. I and III, and in theirextreme inner position extend far enough intothe said path to cause 5them to bite or' arrestively engage the adjacent end of the adjacent baror strip b and support the pile of strips or bars I) remaining betweenthe standards a overthe said engaged strip or bar which is then thelowermost mem- Ice 1 her of the said pile, as shown in Fig. IV. Thestandards a are slotted laterally, as at a to accommodate the locationand operation of the detents e.

Each standard a is provided at its upper end and upon its outer sidewith two aprons f and h, arranged the former within the latter cam 70,with which a suitable applied shaft It,

which is driven by the adjacent chain d of the aforesaid endless carrieror conveyer, is provided. The said inner apron fcarries the detents e,which are movable within the said standard, and has an arm f, whichoperatively engages a cam with which the said shaft 7c is provided.There are therefore two shafts it and k, arranged in line endwise and asuitable distan ce apart and adjacent to the different standards a,respectively, and two corresponding sprocket-wheels k and 70 areoperatively mounted on the different shafts 7c and 76, respectively, ando'peratively engage the different chains (1 and (1, respectively. Thechains d lead from the wheels k to and operatively engagesprocket-wheels m, which are operatively and slidably mounted on asuitably-applied shaft m, which is operatively provided with adriving-pulley m to which power is applied in any approved manner.Operative engagement between the wheels m and th'eshaft m is shownestablished by the well-known means of groove and feather, as at m",(see Fig. 1,) so that the said wheels m can be adjusted apart tocorrespond with the distance between the wheels 70*.

A bed-plate 7' extends under both standards aand each standard a has abase a, which rests upon the said plate. The base a is secured tothe'bed-plate '1' by bolts 25 and nuts 71, which bolts are arranged withtheir heads adapted to bear against the under side of the bed-plate andwith their shanks extended upwardly through corresponding holes 7'',formed in the said plate, and upwardly through slots a formed in theaforesaid base and the said nuts are mounted on the shanks of the boltsat the upper side of the said base and the aforesaid slots are arrangedparallel with the strips or bars I) piled between the standards a, andconsequently the said standards upon loosening the nuts n are renderedfree to be adjusted apart to accommodate the length of the bars orstrips 1) which are to be fed to the endless conveyer or carrier frombetween the said standards, which are secured in the desired adjustmentupon tightening the said nuts.

The cam-shaft is, instrumental in the operation of shelf 0 anddetentsewithin a standard a, is supported in any approved manner fromthe base of the said standard, and consequen tly both shafts 7 areshifted as required with the standards during the adjustment of thestandards toward or from each other. The flanges a of the standards arearranged far enough above the endless carrier or conveyer to avoidinterference with the said conveyer or carrier in adjusting thestandards or upon the bed-plate.

By the construction hereinbefore described it will be observed that thechains (1 are driven in unison during the operation of the shaft m,andthrough the medium of the sprocketwheels 10 rotate the shafts k inunison, and the arrangement of the parts and the trend of the workingsurfaces of the cams k and k are such that the two shelves 0 and thedetents e are simultaneously actuated; that the said shelves areactuated alternately into and out of the path of the bars or strips 1)introduced between the standards; that the detents eare actuatedalternately into and out of the said path; that the shelves at thecommencement of the operation of the apparatus are in their inner oroperative position and support the bars or strips b dropped orintroduced between the standards a, as shown in Figs. I and III; thatthe detents e at the beginning of the operation of the apparatus are intheir outer and inoperative position out of the path of the said stripsor bars, as

shown in Figs. I and III; that the detents e move inwardly into theirinner and operative position during the movement of the shelves 0 intotheir outer and inoperative position; that the lowermost strip or bar 1)drops onto the chains d of ,the endless carrier or conveyer upon theactuation of the said shelves into their outer and inoperative position;that the next lowermost bar or strip 1) is arrestively engaged at theends by the detents 6 during the actuation of the said detents intotheir inner and operative position, and consequently only one bar, orstrip 1) drops at a time from above the shelves 0 onto the aforesaidcarrier or conveyer during the operation of the apparatus.

The detents e havetheir ends preferably somewhat sharp or tooth-shapedto render them capable of biting, and thereby more positively engagingthe next lowermost bar or strip b during their operation.

To accommodate imperfections in the ends of the strips or bars I) placedbetween the standards, or slight Variations in the length -of the saidbars or strips, and to avoid the necessity of exercising nice care inplacing the said strips or bars between the standards, and to avoidsplitting or mutilation of the ends of the said bars or strips, thedetents e are capable of yielding endwise against the action ofsuitably-applied spring 3 or equivalent means. (See Figs. III and IV.)Preferably each detent e extends through and has bearing in the lower orfree end of the inner apron f, which carries the said detent, and aspiral spring sis coiled upon the said detent and confined between ashoulder f formed in the said apron, and a shoulder 6 formed upon thesaid detent between the aforesaid shoulder f and the inner or forwardend of the detent, and a stop-forming pin 00 extends through the outerend of the said detent at the outer side of the said apron f and in theouter and inoperative position of the said detent engages the said sideof the said apron, as shown in Fig. III, and thereby limits the inwardmovement of the detent independently of the apron.

That I claim is 1. Feeding apparatus of the character indicated,comprising two standards arranged a suitable distance apart; two.laterally-swingable aprons arranged at the outer side of each standardand supported and depending from the upper end of the said standard; ashelf supported from the lower end of one of the said aprons and havingits sweep, during the operation of the shelf-bearing apron, extendinginto the space or chamber formed between the standards, and detentssupported from the lower end of the other of the said aprons and havingtheir sweep, during the operation of the detent-bearing apron, extendinginto the aforesaid space or chamber, and mechanism for simultaneouslyoperating the said aprons, and the arrangement of the parts being suchthat the shelves and the detents of both standards are simultaneouslyactuated, that the said shelves are simultaneously actuated toward orfrom each other, that the detents are actuated into their inner andoperative position during the actuation of the shelves into their outerand inoperative position and move into their outer and inoperativeposition during the movement of the shelves into their inner andoperative position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Feeding apparatus of the character indicated, comprising twostandards arranged a suitable distance apart; two laterally-swingableaprons arranged at the outer side of each standard and supported anddepending from the upper end of the said standard; a shelf supportedfrom the lower end of one of the said aprons and having its sweep,during the operation of the shelf-bearing apron, extending into thespace or chamber formed between the standards, and detents supportedfrom the lower end of the other of the said aprons and having theirsweep, during the operation of the detent-bearing apron, extending intothe aforesaid space or chamber, and cam mechanism for simultaneouslyoperating the aprons of both standards, and the arrangement of the partsbeing such that the shelfbearing and the detent-bearing apron of eachstandard are simultaneously actuated in opposite directions,respectively, that the shelfbearing aprons of both standards aresimultaneously actuated toward or from each other, that the detents arein their inner and operative position when the shelves are in theirouter and inoperative position and are in their outer and inoperativeposition when the shelves are in their inner and operative position,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. Feeding apparatus of the character indicated, comprising twostandards arranged a suitable distance apart and adjustable toward andfrom each other; two laterally-swingable aprons arranged at the outerside of each standard and supported and depending from the upper end ofthe said standard; a shelf supported from the lower end of the saidaprons and having its sweep, during the operation of the shelf-bearingapron, extending into the space or chamber formed between the standards,and detents supported from the lower end of the other of the said apronsand having their sweep, during the operation of the detent-bearingapron, extending into the aforesaid space or chamber, and mechanismadapted to operate the said aprons and supported from the apron-bearingstandard, and the arrangement of the parts being such that the shelvesand the detents of both standards are simultaneously actuated, that theshelves simultaneously move toward or from each other, that the detentsare moved into their inner and operative position during the move mentof the shelves into their outer and inoperative position and move intotheir outer and inoperative position during themovement of the shelvesinto their inner and operative position, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

4. Feeding apparatus of the character indicated, comprising twostandards arranged a suitable distance apart; two aprons arranged at theouter side of each standard and horizontally pivoted, at their upperends, to and transversely of the upper portion of the said standard; ashelf upon the lower end of one of the said aprons and having its sweep,during the operation of the shelf-bearing apron,

extending into the space or chamber formed between the standards, anddetents supported from the lower end of the other of the said aprons andhaving their sweep, during the operation of the detent-bearing apron,extending into the aforesaid space or chamber; two cam-shafts arrangedinline endwise adjacent the different standards, respectively, andprovided, respectively, with two cams; means rotating the said shafts inunison; operative connections between the aprons of each standard andthe different cams, respectively, of the adjacent shaft, and thearrangement of the parts and the trend'of the cams being such that theaprons of each standard are actuated simultaneously in oppositedirections, respectively, and that the shelfbearing aprons of bothstandards simultaneously move toward or from each other, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

5. Feeding apparatus of the character indicated, comprising twostandards arranged a suitable distance apart; two aprons arranged at theouter side of each standard and pivoted at their upper ends, to andtransversely of &

the upper portion of the said standard; a shelf formed upon the lowerend of one of the said aprons and having its sweep, during the operationof the shelf-bearing apron, extending into the aforesaid space orchamber formed between the standards, and detents supported from thelower end of the other of the said aprons and having their sweep, duringthe operation of the detent-bearing apron, extend ing into the aforesaidspace or chamber; two cam-shafts arranged in line endwise adjacent thedifferent standards, respectively,and provided, respectively, with twocams; a suitably-actuated endless carrier or conveyer arranged betweenthe standards at an elevation below the aprons of the standards andoperatively connected with the cam-shafts, and the arrangement of theparts and the trend of the cams being such that the aprons of each standard are actuated simultaneously in opposite directions, respectively,and that the shelfbearing aprons of both standards move simultaneouslytoward or from each other, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

6. Feeding apparatus of the character indicated, comprising twostandards arranged a suitable distance apart; two aprons arranged onewithin the other at the outer side of each standard and pivoted, attheir upper ends, to and transversely of the upper portion of the saidstandard; a shelf borne by the lower end of the outer apron and havingits sweep, during the operation of theshelf-bearing apron, extending.into the space or chamber formed between the standards, and detentssupported from the lower end of the inner apron and having their sweep,during the operation of the detent-bearing apron, extending into theaforesaid space or chamber, and mechanism for simultaneously operatingthe aprons of both standards, and the arrangement of the parts beingsuch that the aprons of each standard are actuated simultaneously inopposite directions, respectively, and that the shelfbearing aprons ofboth standards move simultaneously toward or from each other,substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

7. Feeding apparatus of the character indicated, comprising twostandards arranged a suitable distance apart and respectively provided,upon their inner sides, with two upright flanges arranged a suitabledistance apart transversely of the respective standard; two apronsarranged one inside the other at the outer side of each standard andpivoted, at their upper'ends, to and transversely of the upper end ofthe said standard; a shelf borne by the lower end of the outer andlongerapron and having its sweep extending into the space or chamberformed between the standards; endwise-movable detents carried by thelower end of the inner and shorter apron and having a sweep extendinginto the aforesaid space or chamber; suitably-applied springs acting tomove the detents inwardly from and independently of the detent-bearin gapron; a stop for limiting the inward movement of the detentsindependently of the detent-carrying apron, and mechanism forsimultaneously actuating the aprons of each standard in oppositedirections, respectively, and the arrangement of the parts being suchthat the shelf bearing aprons or the detents-bearing aprons of bothstandards shall, during the operation of the apparatus, movesimultaneously toward or from each other.

In testimony whereof I sign the foregoing specification, in the presenceof two witnesses, this 12th day of March, 1902, at Cleveland, Ohio.

- PETER J. JOECKEN.

Witnesses (J. H. DORER, G. M. HAYES.

